Africa > Comoros > Government

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Administrative divisions 3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore, Anjouan, Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli, Moroni*, Mutsamudu*
Capital city	Moroni
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	11 42 S, 43 14 E
Constitution	23 December 2001
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Representative to the US and Ambassador to the UN Mohamed TOIHIRI
Executive branch > Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch > Chief of state President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006)
Flag description four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
Government type	republic
Independence	6 July 1975 (from France)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic)
Legal system French and Islamic law in a new consolidated code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and 18 by universal suffrage; to serve for five years)
National holiday	Independence Day, 6 July
Political parties and leaders Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assowmani]; Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union President); Front National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed RACHID] (Islamic party in opposition); Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]
Status	transition
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Time required to start a business > days	23 days		[124th of 171]
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International claims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's and Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel; in May 2008, African Union forces are called in to assist the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001
United Nations mission http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5236.htm

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